Fire-escape



J. F. ZETKA AND J. SEFCIK.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1-920.

gmamw J. F. ZETKA AND J. SEFCIK.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION, FILED APR. 2, 1920.

1,357,668. Patented Nov. 2, 19%.

2 SHEETS-SHET 2.

FFCis.

r. nun J sari-r serum, or NEWARK, NEW eraser.

rims-secure.

To all whom may concern Be it known that we, JOHN F. ZnrKA and JOSEPH diners, citizens of Czechoslovakia, residing at (both) Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

. The primary object of the invention is the A further object of the invention is to provide a fire escape for upper story windows of buildings so that persons may be carried to the ground easily and quickly the device being automatically controlled and stopped in a cushioned manner preventing injury to the persons escaping from the building.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for carrying pcrsons from an elevated position to a point adjacent the ground, the speed oi travel being controlled by the passenger and the operation of the device being automatically stopped when the passenger approaches near the ground, the device possessing great strength and adapted for installation upon any kind'ot' building for the escape of the occupants in case of fire.

With thesegeneral objects in view the in vention consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accom- 'ianying drawings, and then claimed.

In the drawiligs like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device operatively mounted upon a building with parts broken away,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with. a part of the chain and basket removed,

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view 01. one of the upper brackets partially broken away, j

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational View of the journals bearing of one of the upper brackets,

Specification of Letters Patent.

stantially vertically positioned upper bracket 10 a cylinder 28 through which. a brake rod Patented Nov. 2, 19230.

.itpplication filed April 2, 1920. Serial No. 369,864.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the upper P01111011 or: the bracket shown in Fig. 3,

Flg. 6 1s a side elevation of one of the brake members partially broken away and parts removed,

.Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view thereof,

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the brake levers and the connections therefor,

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of one of the brake levers,

Fig. 10 is an elevational View of one of the brake linings removed,

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view thereof, and

Fig. 12 is two views of one form of the adjustable stop employed for the journal bearings of the upper brackets.

ieferring more in detail to the drawings, the device broadly consists of a pair of triangular upper brackets 10 and a pair of similar lower brackets 11 positioned therebeneath secured to the exterior of a building wallas shown in Fig. 1, for mounting endless sprocket chains 13 operatively thereon with a passenger-carrier or basket 1 L upon said-chains. Rounds or hand-holds, 14 are secured between opposite links of the chains 13 after the manner of a ladder.

The upper sides 15 of the upper brackets 10 are inclined toward the building, and provided with grooves or trackways 16 within which the base 17 of the journal block 18 is slid-ably mounted. Anti-friction bearings 19 in the trackway 16 for mounting the base 17 thereon cause the blocks 18 to have a tendency to travel by gravity to ward the building, it being understood that a shaft 20 ispositioned between the blocks 18 through the bushings 21 thereof.

Spaced sprocket wheels 22 are secured upon the shaft 20 inwardly of the jouisial blocks 18 while brake drums 23 are mounted adjacent the outer free ends of the shaft 20 outwardly of the journal blocks. The lower brackets 11 have journal members 24 depending therefrom with a shaft 2:} journaled therethrough for mounting sprocket wheels 26 with the chains 13 subsprocket wheels 22 and 26. A side extension 27 at the end of each provides a mounting for over theter the. basket from a point between the up g per brackets 10., controlling the downward (Jo ill 29 longitudinally extends. Arcuate sections V brake member 30 a stub shaft 33 ad justably connecteo to the adjacent end of the rod 2-9 by a threaded sleeve 34 after the manner of a turn buckle while a link 85 is provided for each brake member pivoted as at 36 to the upper end of the brake member 30 and spanning the outwardly curved end projection 37 of the adjacent member 31 tor swinging the member 31 toward the member 30 upon downward movement of the link 35. l

it. spring 38 between the upper endpor' tions of the brake members 30 and 31 norma lly tends to hold the brake released from the drum while a roller 39 in each link 85 bears upon the outer curved face 4.0 of the brake ends 37 and a lever dlprojects from each link for convenience in swinging the link downwardly and puttingon the brake, a similar brake being provided for each of the brackets 10. The levers d1 thereof are connected. together by a rod 42 having a central projecting arm 43 supplied with a downwardly depending cord 44- for convenience in grasping at any point between the upper and lower b 'ackets to set the brakes 30, 31 and retard or stop the movement of the chains 13; An inwardly curved lever 45 pivoted as at 4:6 adjacent the top of each bracket 11 has a roller 47 in its free end adapted to be contacted by the basket 1 1- during its descent when a passenger is descending from a point adjacent the upper brackets 10 toward the ground adjacent the lower brackets 11. Springs 18 upon the top of the brackets 11 beneath the levers 15 serve as shock absorbers for' the basket 1 1 engaging the rollers 47 while a rod 4:9 connects the levers 45 together and is provided with an arm 50 to which the lower end of the cord .44: is secured thereby setting the brakes 3031 automatically upon the contacting of the basket 14 with said rollers 47-7. stoppin 10 through each brake end 87 prevents the link 35 thereof all. AA.

from slipping oii' of said end.

The basket 14; is collapsible in form and in the operation of the devlce persons enmovement of the basket by means of the cord a l until the basket engages the rollers at? automatici-illy setting the brakes 30,- 31 and stopping the travel of'the basket 14:. The person then descends from the basket 14; to the ground and he weight of the bas ket 1d and a similar basket positioned thereabove causes lower basket to fold up adhe chain 18 for passh the Jasket automati i.

and

by the rollscent 1y opening seeming" folded posiwvith the basket upside down. The basket again automatically opens for receiving an other passenger between the upper brackets 10 -=it being evidentthat any number of-receivlng baskets 14 may be employed which are desirable for the height of'the building and the length of the chains 13.

A stud 51 projects from each base 17 through the eye 52 of an adjustable stop 52 secured within the trackway 16, a spring '54: surrounding the stud 51 between the base 17 and its adjacently positioned adjustable stop. The sliding of the blocks 18 toward the building is cushioned by the springs 54, itbeing seen that the weight of a person entering the basket 14 causes the blocks 18 and the shaft 20 to move toward the building.

A spring-55 surrounds each of the rods 29 within its cylinder 28. and bears against the inner end 56 of the cylinder and a shoulder 5? upon the rod 29.

This arrangement also tends to resiliently hold the shaft 20 from sliding toward the building, and tends to prevent the braking action of'the brake members 30, 31, when a person enters the basket lei. The upper brackets 10 may be positioned at points on opposite sides of a window so that the occupants of the building may readily enter the basket 14, when the basket is elevated so as to descend safely to a point adjacent the ground in the manner heretofore set forth. The movement of the chains 13 may be continuous if desired by operating either of the shafts 20 or 25.

tied of its occupant in case of fire, the same being also serviceable in lowering any form of commodities by means of the basket 14. Vl/hile the form of the invention herein set forth is believed preferable, it will be understood that changes maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

iWhat we claim as new and-desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A fire escape comprising upper and lower pairs of mounting brackets, a'sh'aft transversely journaled beneath the lower: pair of brackets,' journal blocks anti-frictionally mounted .upon the upper pair of brackets, a shaft journaled through said journal blocks, a pair of sprockets 'upon each of saidshafts; endlesschaine runningover said sprockets, passengerereceiving', baskets foldaloly attached to saidchains-ad justable resilient stops for the journal blocks brakes acent the ends of the upper shaft outwarzdly"of the journal blocks, resilient positioning connections between said brakes if and the upper brackets and controlling means for the brakes adapted for actuation at points between the upper and lower pairs of brackets.

2. A fire escape comprising upper and lower pairs of mounting brackets, a shaft transversely journaled beneath the lower pair of brackets, journal blocks anti-frictionally mounted upon the upper pair of brackets, a shaft ournaled through said journalblocks, a pair of sprockets upon each of i said shafts, endless chains running, over said sprockets, passenger-receiving baskets foldably attached to said chains, adjustable resilient stops for the journal blocks brakes adjacent the ends of the upper shaft outwardly of the journal blocks, resilient positioning connections between said brakes and the upper brackets, an arm operatively connected to said brakes, shock-absorbing'memberscarried by the lower brackets within the path of travel of the baskets operatively connected to the said brake arm adapt-ed for automatically setting the brakes when the basket reaches a point adjacent the ground during the downward travel thereof.

3. A fire escape comprising brackets adapted to be positioned exteriorly of a building adjacent an upper story window thereof havingtrackways in the upper side of the brackets inclined toward the building, journal blocks anti-frictionally mounted in said trackways, adjustable resilient stop means for the blocks carried by the brackets within saidjtrackways, a shaft journaled adapted for frictional engagement there-- through said blocks and passenger-carrying means operatively carried by said shaft.

4. A fire escape comprising brackets adapted to be positioned exteriorly of a building adjacent an upper story window thereof having trackways in the upper side of the brackets inclined toward the building, journal blocks anti-frictionally'mounted in said trackways, adjustable resilient stop means for the blocks carried by the brackets within said trackways, a. shaft journaled through said blocks, wheels upon said shaft, endless members over said wheels depending beneath the shaft and a collapsible passed ger-carrying basket attached to said endless members. 7

5. The combination of claim 4, with the following addition z drums upon said shaft outwardly of the blocks,'brake shoe mem; bers substantially encirclingthe drums with, adjustable resilient connections be tween said brake members at points adjacent the outer free ends of the brackets and operating links for said brake members.

(3. The combination called for by claim 5,

adapted to travel.

with the followin addition :operating le vers for said lin (S, an operating arm for said levers and an actuating cord forthe arm depending adjacent the building.

' 7. The combination called for by claim 4, with the following addition :-lower bracle ets positioned beneath said first-named brackets, a shaft journaled beneath said lower brackets, wheels upon said lower shaft over which said endless members are adapted to travel. 1

8. The combination called for by claim 5, with the following addition:lower'brackets positioned beneath said first-named brackets, 'a shaft journaled beneath said lower brackets, wheels upon said lower shaft over which said endless members are 9.-The combination called for by claim 6, with the following addition :-lower braekets positioned beneath said first-named brackets, a shaft journaled beneath {said lower brackets, wheels upon said lower shaft over whibh said endless members are adapted to travel.

10. The combination called for by claim 7, with the following addition :--shock-absbrbing arms for the basket pivoted upon the lower brackets in the path of travel of the basket, connections between said arms and the brake cord,'the basket adapted for folding subsequent toits engagement with said arms for passing the arms during the continued travel of the endless members and basket during the operation of the device.

11. The combination called for by claim 8, with the following addition :shock-absorbingz arms forthe basket pivoted upon 101!) the lower brackets in the path of travel of the basket, connections between said arms and the brake cord, the basket adapted for folding subsequent to its engagement with said arms for passing the armsduring the we continued travel of the endless members and basket during the operation of the device.

r 12. The combination called for by claim 9, with thefollowing addition shock-ab- 1W adapted for folding subsequent to its ennagagement'with said arms for passing the arms during the continued travel of the end 'less members and basket during the operation of the device.

In testimony whereof we tures.

affix can signa- 12a 

